USW Local 193g
P.O. Box 114 December 10, 2009
Mt. Zion, Il.
62549

Dear Public;
This letter is to inform you of the unprofessional conduct of the
Corporate Management, Local Management and the HR Department at the
Mt. Zion PPG Glass facility in Mt. Zion, Il.

We the USW Local 193g have been negotiating with the Company
since June of this year, working both under our old contract and without a
contract, since this time.

We have maintained our work ethic, our goal to deliver a quality
product and remained on the job and focused on the task of meeting our
customers needs.

Meanwhile, the Company has seen fit to attempt to take away $10/per
hour off our wage & benefits package, while laying off workers, idling one
production line and claiming the plant has no orders.

While the Union admits the recession the country is in, we haven't
received an explanation as to why the Company has recently started up a
furnace in one of our sister plants while claiming they have too many
furnaces running now. Or, while admitting that our plant would be more
profitable running two lines vs. running one line here and one line
elsewhere, still started up a line at another facility.

Or, why they are working overtime shipping glass from Texas &
Pennsylvania to fill our orders.

They are trying to split the Union by offering a buyout hoping to buy
votes from those who wish to retire and those members whom have been
laid off since January of 2009. But only on the condition that the contract
be ratified.

Despite losing an Arbitrator's decision saying some of their proposal
was invalid and having an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the Union
dismissed, the Company on Dec. 8, 2009, after approximately 10 mins. of
meeting with the Union, (despite having 2 ½ days of negotiations
scheduled) presented their final proposal, with a few small changes, which
in the Union's eyes, still contains the invalid offers.

On Wednesday Dec. 9, 2009, the Company posted a letter stating
they believe we are at impasse (The Union does not in any way agree we
are at impasse) and they intended on implementing their final offer
effective Monday Dec. 14, 2009, without allowing the Union time to
schedule a meeting with the membership to discuss the options available
to them.

If this contract is implemented, the members could not receive the
buyout and the majority of workers will be forced to take a $2 to $6/ per
hour cut in wages alone and does not include the loss of benefits that
would occur, such as vacation pay, insurance co-pays increases, loss of
seniority, etc.

Some members with a family of 4, would be working swing shift,
holidays, 1 weekend a month off for near poverty wages. (approx.
$23,184/per year. Poverty level is $22,050/ per year for a family of 4)
The jobs that took 25-30 yrs. seniority to get, will be given to new
hires. Those with a family of 4 would be working for $30 over the poverty
level ($22,080 vs. $22,050)

These are just some of the conditions that USW Local 193g is facing.
Not only are we facing these, but also everyday issues concerning more lay
offs, job reductions, the Company repeatedly violating the terms of our
contract with respect to job assignments, filling vacancies and vacations,
treatment of employees, etc.

The Company canceling the meetings to have the Unemployment
Office Representatives at the plant to assist 70+ workers who were getting
laid off. These meetings were cancelled right after the Company received
notice that the ULP charge against the Union had been dismissed.

Coincidence? No, that is the Corporate Baby, not getting their way. So they
punish the Union workers.

They have gone out of their way to push us around, inconvenience
us by laying us off for a week and a half, bringing us back for a week and
laying us off again. Starting in the middle of the week of course, so you
have two more weeks of your unemployment benefits affected.

These are the reasons why you have seen informational pickets in
front of the plant every Monday since June.

These are the real reasons we are fighting for our jobs. We are not
demanding raises, more benefits or bonuses as the Company would like
you to believe. We are fighting for our jobs, our livelihoods, our families
and our future.

We would like to thank all of you who have honked, waved, called or
given us words of comfort and support. Even those who yell at us, give us
a thumbs down or a finger up, we respect your opinion.

We only ask that you know the issues before forming your opinion.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Danny M. Underwood
USW Local 193g
President